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Too many Bingo Parlors in a concentrated area results in the death of one
DARLENE VINSON
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
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| Lemurel Foster (center), one of the last big winners at All Star Bingo turns over her winning card as Joyce Thomson (right) of Vancouver looks on. |
| MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
As the operators of the hall, Soroptimist sponsored bingo games, benefited from all Oregon Lottery products sold, established hall policies, and provided three other charities with a place to operate games. Albertina Kerr, Albertina Kerr Center Foundation and Willamette Valley Track and Field were allowed to sponsor up to 15 hours of bingo per week. Each non-profit ran their own games, establishing buy-ins, payouts and types of games played as they saw fit using the profits to benefit their causes.
Until recently there were three parlors operating in Mid-County. A little over a year ago, Victory Bingo, 16022 S.E. Stark St., opened its doors. Decker explained that because the Oregon Department of Justice, which has oversight of the halls, had established no zoning regulations in regard to proximity to other facilities, Mid-County became over saturated. Four halls and their commensurate non-profits were now competing in the same marketplace. “Competition of this nature is bad for non-profits,” said Decker, because the goal is “to create fundraising opportunities and a fun experience for players.”
As players moved around checking out new games being offered, non-profit sponsors found their efforts becoming fruitless and abandoned the games. Hall operators, who previously had waiting lists for sponsors, now have difficulty finding non-profits willing to take the risk.
Corrie Heselius, the bingo manager at All Star said, “It’s really too bad were having to close. We have recreated a really strong regular session. Players have been coming back.”
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